Automobile shipping device



Jan. l, 1929.

L. BLACKMORE ET AL AUTOMOBILE SHIPPING DEvicE Original Filed June 13, 1924 ze 24 z@ Patented Jan. l, 1929.v

UNITED STATES 1,697,807 PATENT OFFICE- ILOYD BLACKMORE, OF HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN, AND MONTGOMERY W. MCCON- KEY, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AUTOMOBILE-SHIPPING DEVICE.

Original application filed .Tune 13, 1924, Serial No. 719,759, now Ptent No. 1,655,129, dated Januaiy 3, 1928. Divided and this application led October 13, 1927. Serial No. 225,922.

This application is a. division ot' our prior application. Serial No. 719.759. iiled June, 13. 1924. Patent No. 1,655,129, Jan. 3, 1928.

The invention relates to the. shipment of automobiles in freight cars and has to do pa rtieularly with means for supporting one automobile above the other in a box ear of standard construction. As in the elected form in our prior application, we.

prefer to make the supporting means foldable so -that when the ear is empty, the supporting members may be moved out of the way and the car may 'be used for other purposes. IVe have 'particularly designed the ear so that when the supports are folded away. it presents a clean. unobstructed interior making it suitable for use in the shipment o't` grain and similar commodities.

Supporting devices made according to our invention consist of sections pivoted to the walls of the car and adapted to receive and support the automobile. Four of these sections are preferably provided, one for each ofthe wheels ot' the vehicle. Each section is supported by suitable braces and struts which mayT also be foldable it desired. The sections are preferably so designed that when folded out of the way, they assume a position Hush with the interior wall of the car forming a tight joint therewith.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a lvertical section through a box car provided with our improved supporting means.

Figure 2 is a. view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

sidewalls and 1() an end wall ot a box ear of conventional construction.- T hc side walls comprise studs 12to which are secured the outer sheathing 14 and the inner liningl 16. The lining extends as usual to :i point about midway of the height of the ear. At each side' of each end ot the car, a. section ot' the liner indicated at 20 is so arranged as to serve. as a support for the 'front and rear wheels of an automobile. Each of the sections 20 consists ot strips 22, preferably in the form of two-hyfours, secured together by sheathing 24. The sections 20 are pivoted to the adjacent portions 4 indicates the bottom, 6 the top, S 'thev section 20 in horizontal position. I have illust-rated folding braces 28 and cross struts 30, the latter acting as thrust members to transmit a port-ion of the weight of the car to the car tloor.

The sections 20 may be provided with any suitable. means i'or receiving and supporting an automobile. I have illustrated shoes 32 arranged in pairs at the opposite ends of the section and shaped to receive the Wheels of the automobile.

It is obvious that when the car has been unloaded, it may be converted into a box car of conventional interior by simply removing the struts 30 and swinging the sections 2O into position flush with the adjacent portions ot the liner. The braces 28 obviously assume a folded position between the section and the outer wall of the car. IVith the part-s in this position, it is obvious that it may be useditor the shipment of various commodities such as grain, which require a tight car.

IVe claim:

l. A freight car coinprising, in combination, side walls having inner linings, means carrying the upper section of the lining of each Vall and which is'arranged to permit said section to be swung out to form a shelf, and means to securean automobile on thev shelves formed by opposite swinging sections of the linings.

2. A box car comprising, in combination, opposite walls, wall sections pivoted to said walls and adapted to be swung to horizontal positions, means for bracing the wall sections in said last-named position, and means on said sections for supporting an auto- 3. In the combination as defined in claim 2, said car being provided with an interior liner and said Wall sections, when swung to non-supporting position, being adapted to lie Hush with the inner surface of said liner.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

LLOYD BLAOKMORE.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

MONTGOMERY W. MCCONKEY. 

